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First-time homebuyers in the US are on the hunt for affordable homes in prosperous markets - but scoring a deal like that is easier said than done.

Zillow, first-time homebuyers account for 46% of all homebuyers and are more likely than veteran homebuyers to go over their budgets.

In order to make a good investment, first-time homebuyers - like all homebuyers - have to understand which market trends are considered red flags. Just consider markets like San Francisco and Seattle, which, according to Zillow, show trends of competitive prices, low inventory, and weak home value appreciation forecasts.

To establish a list of the most challenging markets for first-time homebuyers, Zillow evaluated metropolitan areas on four data points: current median home value; strength of home value appreciation forecast; size of current inventory; and current percentage of listings with a price cut. All four data points were given equal weighting. Listing and home-value data for all cities listed below has been sourced from Zillow, and represents each market as of June 2019.

Keep reading for a ranking of the top 10 most difficult metros for first-time homebuyers.